Improved tanning apparatus



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MOUREN, OF MARSEILLES, FRANCE.

IMPROVED TANNING APenmafvrus.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,787, dated August 9, 1864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH MOUREN, of Marseilles, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tanning; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention consists in the employment of pressure to cause the tannin to penetrate into the pores of the hides and skins undergoingl the operation,'as hereinafter explained. I take a vessel calculated to withstand the pressure it is to be subjected to and line it with lead. I provide man-holes in the cover, and make them to screw on and off. Connected with or standing upon a vat containing tanning-liquid I place two pumps. One communica-tes with the upper part ofthe vessel, while the other opens into a channel run` ning up and down the side of the vessel, and formed with numerous perforations in the face.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is an external elevation; Fig. 2, a plan View of an apparatus for tanning aceoi ding to this invention.

A is the vessel in which the tanning is performed. It is by preference round at bottom, and is supported on a frame, 0. The vessel A is lined with lead I), in order that the iron or other material of which the vessel is formed may not come in contact with the materials contained thei ein. On top ot' the vessel A is a man hole, closed by a cover, L, screwed down onto its seat by means of a se: ew, K. Through this man-hole the hides to be tanned are introduced.

I) D are two pumps, standing on a vat, G. 'lhe pump D communicates through the pipe M and cock E with the upper part of the vessel A, while the pump D communicates through the pipe N and cock F with the interor of the vessel A. 'lhe suction pipes of the two pumps are furnished with metallic gratings H H', to prevent the passage ofvforeign matters. Similar gratings are also adapted to the orifices in the vessel A. The cock J at the bottom of the vessel A is for the purpose of drawing off the liquid therein when required. A safety-valve, It, is applied to the vessel, for the purpose of regulating the pressure, so that the given degree ot' pressure shall not be exceeded.

S is a pipe communicating with the cylinder, and bearing on its extremity a pressuregauge, T, which' indicates the pressure at which the operation is eifected. On top of the cylinder A there is an air-escape, U, allowingI vacuum is effected therein by means of a pneumatic pump, for the purpose provided, and the cylinder or vessel A is then lled by means ot' the alimentary pump D with the tanningliquid, whose degree of strength is in accordance with the nature of the skins. When the whole vessel is filled with skins and liquid, the force-pump D is actuated, in order to charge or penetrate the pores of the skins with liquid under pressure. The skins or hides are kept under pressure for periods varying with their nature and the purposes to which they are to be applied, and the operation may be performed once or oftener.

Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be performed, I would observe that I do not claim impregn-ating hides or skins with the required liquid by subjecting them to the action of a. current of the liquid under asustaintd and regulated pressure after they have leen deprived of air by a preliminary exhaustion; but n What I do claim is- 1. The method of tanning hides or skins by placing them in a Vessel each between two layers of tali before injecting the tanningliquid, substantially as described.

2.' The construction of the tannin g-vesselthat is to say, making the same of castiron and of a columnar form, lined with lead, substantially as set forth. A

In testimony whereof I have signedv my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

' JH. MoUnEN.

Witnesses A. DE BANVILLE, P. lvIoRAVAL. 

